New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Five different players netted a goal before the Gothic Knights got on the board as William Paterson University defeated New Jersey City University, 5-1, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Soccer Park.
 
WPU (3-2-1, 1-0 NJAC) outshot NJCU (1-4-2, 0-1 NJAC), 26-9, including 20-4 in shots on goal, and led 3-0 at halftime. The Pioneers were whistled for an incredible 17 offsides in the contest. The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 16-2.
 
In defeat, sophomore goalkeeper BRITTANY HOFFMAN (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) collected 14 saves, reaching double digits in saves for the fourth time this season and ninth time in her career. NJCU also had one team save.
 
Senior midfielder CHELSEA SPETHMANN (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights-Wood Ridge) scored NJCU's only goal at the 66:50 mark of the second half when she buried an unassisted marker with a blast from outside the box. It was her first goal of the season and seventh of her career.
 
The Pioneers scored twice in the first 10 minutes. Senior midfielder Laela Brock (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) scored at 6:49 on a 2-on-1 breakaway up the middle for her fourth goal of the season off an assist from senior forward Michelle Marabondo (Kenvil, NJ/Roxbury). Marabondo then netted her 10^th goal of the season on a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box at the 9:45 mark, which proved to be the game winner.
 
Freshman midfielder Victoria Lopes (Union, NJ/Union Catholic Regional) added her first career goal on a loose ball in the box in the 37^th minute, using an assist from senior forward Erika Juricic (East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown). Juricic then tallied her third goal of the season in the 60^th minute on a one-timer on the left side of the box off an assist from freshman forward Gina Cowdrick (Island Heights, NJ/Central Regional). Senior midfielder Nicole Kufel (Oradell, NJ/River Dell Regional) made it 5-0 at the 63:55 juncture with her first goal of the season, converting WP's second penalty kick of the afternoon.
 
Junior Mary Jane Seiler (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) started in net and played 35:00 for the Pioneers, making one save. Freshman Kat Clint (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) saw 20:30 of action and made one stop, while junior Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) played the final 34:30 and collected one save. 
 
Kufel finished with a game-high seven shots (five on goal) while Marabondo tallied five shots, including four on goal in 43 minutes. Freshman midfielder KAITLYN LIMA (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) led NJCU with three shots (two on goal).
 
NJCU is right back in action tomorrow, Sunday, September 16 with a non-conference home game against Hendrix College of Arkansas at 12 p.m. at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field in Jersey City.